Intusoft will release a beta version of the IntuScope5 waveform
processor program at the end of this month. This beta version
will be publicly available FREE of charge to any interested person
via download from Intusofts web site.

Why is Intusoft offering IntuScope5 to anyone for FREE?

We hope to encourage more people to buy our software tools
by allowing them to see first hand how easy they are to use and
how powerful they are. User feedback in regards to IntuScope5
will be used to drive product improvements and new features for
the final release. IntuScope5 can be used in conjunction with
all Intusoft ICAP/4 products. In addition, folks who are using
SPICE simulators from other vendors can use IntuScope5 to view
and manipulate their simulation data; IntuScope5 reads the simulation
output (.OUT) text file.

The IntuScope program has been completely redesigned from the
ground up, with significant enhancements to the waveform selection,
manipulation, scaling, viewing, and math operation capabilities.
In addition, IntuScope5 now provides an even larger wealth of
uncompromising features for the advanced user. Powerful interactive
features which require communication with the SPICE simulator
and the SpiceNet schematic capture program have also been enhanced.

The new Add Waveform dialog (Figure
1) is used to select the active project. The project may be
the active simulation (for ICAP/4 or Test Designer users only),
or a prior simulations output file. Check boxes are provided
so that you can globally show or hide specific waveform types
within the waveform list. Weve also added new autoscale
functions so that waveforms can be automatically scaled, tiled,
and/or linked as theyre added to a graph.

The new Scaling dialog (Figure 2) has
been enhanced to include scale/offset or min/max settings. In
addition, there is a new capability to limit the x and y axis
scaling to multiples of 1, 2, and 5, just as you would see on
a laboratory oscilloscope.

Figure1, The new Add Waveform dialog

Figure 2, The new Scaling dialog

Figure 3, The new Grid Characteristics
dialog

A new Grid Characteristics dialog (Figure
3) allows the user to control the grid line characteristics,
line color, border color, and background color.

New trace style settings have been added (Figure
4), which include several line, dot, and bar styles. These
features greatly enhance the ability to make great-looking presentation
quality graphics (Figure 5).

Figure 4, The new trace Style and Width
dialog.

Figure 5, Example shows some of the trace
styles and width options.

Figure 6, The new Label dialog

Another enhancement is in regards to waveform labels (Figure
6). Labels for the most common measurements can now be placed
directly on any waveform graph (Figure 7)
with a single mouse click. These labels can be individually moved,
resized, and customized in regards to text font, color, and justification.
The background color and border display can also be customized.

Figure 7, Example which shows all of
the available label types.

The Y-axis scaling label capability has been improved in order
to permit several Y-axis labels to be displayed on a plot. The
waveforms in Figure 8 were autoscaled
and tiled as they were added to the graph. In this example, all
four traces have the same x-axis scaling, and each of the four
traces shows its y-axis scaling label.

Traces can be moved vertically or horizontally by clicking
and dragging the mouse in the desired direction. Traces can also
be copied and pasted from one plot to another, or dragged and
dropped from one plot onto another plot.

Figure 8, Example of multiple Y-axis
labels on the same graph.

Several plots can now be displayed within a single graph window
(Figure 9). You can mix and match different
plot types, i.e. Tran, AC, etc. A new function has been added
so that you can automatically create a new plot on-the-fly when
a selected waveform is displayed.

Figure 9, Example of multiple plot types
on the same graph.

An unlimited number of cursors can be used on any plot (Figure 10), and cursors can be moved from
one trace on a plot to another trace on the same plot (Figure
11). This allows the capability to make relative measurements
on different traces within the same plot. In addition, if two
plots have the same x-axis scaling, each trace will show dotted
lines which appear on both plots as the trace is dragged, so you
can now make relative measurements between different plots.

Figure10, Example which demonstrates the new multiple
cursor display capability. Each cursor's X-axis and Y-axis data
is displayed in the new Cursor Bar (not shown).

Figure 11, Cursors can now be dragged
from one trace to another.

A new scripting capability has been added. This powerful and
time saving capability eliminates the need to manually repeat
repetitive tasks. IntuScope5 includes several scripts which perform
different types of measurements and functions. The user has complete
control over the script menu names and the locations for each
script; the scripts in the menus parallel the script files and
folders within the installed scripts folder. Users may also create
and edit their own scripts.

Figure 12, Example of a script which
can be used to automatically recreate a graph.

For example, any graph window can be saved in the form of a text
script (Figure 12). That script can
later be recalled and executed in order to recreate the waveform
graph via a single mouse click. Scripting adds a lot of power
to IntuScope5.

We have also added an update function which allows you to display
new waveform simulation data in the following ways:

Replace all displayed traces on the plot using the new simulation
data.

Add duplicate traces to the plot using the new simulation
data so that both the old and new simulation data are displayed
simultaneously.

Create a new graph document and display the traces using
the new simulation data.

Lastly, a new automatic interpolation feature has been added
so that math operations can be performed on waveforms from different
simulations, even if the waveforms have different X-axis ranges
and different quantities of data points. IntuScope5 automatically
interpolates the data points and scales each waveform. The first
displayed waveform dictates the X-axis scaling.

For example, the two waveforms shown in Figure
13 have different X-axis ranges and different quantities of
data points. Waveform #1 spans from 0 to 100ns, and waveform #2
spans from 0 to 200ns.

Figure 13, Two waveforms which have different
quantities of data points and different X-axis
lengths.

Figure 14, Interpolated trace is automatically
extended.

If waveform #1 is dragged from the upper plot to the lower plot
(Figure 14), its data is auto- interpolated
and extended so that it spans from 0 to 200ns.

Figure 15, Interpolated trace is automatically
truncated.

If waveform #2 is dragged from the lower plot to the upper plot
instead (Figure 15), its data is automatically
interpolated and truncated so that it spans from 0 to 100ns.

We hope that you enjoy using the IntuScope5 beta. Send us your
comments and suggestions.

Intusoft will release the ICAP/4 Version 8.x.7 in November.
New purchases will include the new 8.x.7 CD. Maintenance updates
will be posted on Intusofts technical support page, http://www.intusoft.com/support.htm.
Customers who have purchased an 8.x.6 product and have a valid
maintenance agreement should enter their product serial number
and then download the appropriate update file.

The following items highlight what will be included in the
maintenance update release:

Features:

A new Display function (Figure 16)
has been added to the Options Menu in SpiceNet. This new menu
provides quick one-click toggle on/off capability for Pin Numbers,
Part Labels, Node numbers and Labels, OP Values, Waveforms, and
Artwork. The Visible check boxes that used to be in the Drawing
Item Characteristics dialog have been deleted in order to support
this new feature.

Figure 16, Display menu allows quick
toggle on/off of several items.

A new Find function (Figure 17)
has been added to the Edit menu in SpiceNet. This new function
allows you to quickly find and highlight any part or node in
a complex drawing or within multi-page drawings.

Figure 17,
The new Find function provides quick and easy location of a part
or node.

Enhancements:

A Yes/No option has been added to the Test Point Part Properties
dialog in order to provide automatic .PRINT statement generation
for distortion analysis.

The MakeDB utility now automatically opens the log file if
an error has occurred during the parts database compilation process.

IsEd no longer comes to the foreground if a SPICE error is
encountered during simulation.

The Place Subdrawing dialog now sorts folders and directories
alphanumerically.

SpiceNet now allows the simulation of read-only drawing (.DWG)
files.

ICAP/4 packages can now be installed in long folder names
which contain one or more spaces.

The Update Cache function has been improved so that it now
recognizes additional model library file changes such as changes
in mechanical properties information.

Operational amplifiers are typically capable of handling DC
voltages in the range from 1.5 to 15V, and their output voltage
swing cannot exceed these limits. In situations where higher output
levels are desired, a voltage booster can be connected in cascade.
In the following example, a dual stage complementary push-pull
amplifier is shown (Figure 18). This
circuit provides an output swing of +/-100V. As with any DC coupled
class-B amplifier, special attention must be given for the stabilization
of the operating point. Close matching of D1, D2, Q1 and Q4 is
required in order to avoid excessive crossover distortion or thermal
runaway, respectively. In the physical layout, D1 and D2 should
be replaced with a collector-base connected transistor. Simulations
have shown that the biasing scheme is stable over a wide temperature
range, when these transistors are of the same type as Q1 and Q4.

Figure 18, High voltage booster amplifier
circuit.

NPN transistors Q1 and Q2 have a beta value of 182. PNP transistors
Q3 and Q4, however, have a beta value of 130. When the simulation
was performed, the output waveform was asymmetrically clipped
because of the imbalance between the transistors
(Figure 19).

Figure 19, Output voltage is clipped
on the negative side.

A sweep was then performed in order to study the effects due
to the differences in the transistor beta values. The beta value
of transistor Q3 was swept from 100 to 190 in increments of 10
(Figure 20). Notice that when its beta
was 190, as represented by waveform #9, the negative half-cycle
clipping distortion disappeared and maximum voltage swing was
achieved.

We're contemplating the creation of either Web-based Help or HTML-based
Help for all of our products. We'll post a voting area on our
web site so that visitors can let us know which format they prefer.
Here's a brief summary of the benefits and drawbacks of each format:

Web-based Help

Figure 21, Web-based example of Magnetics Designer
help.

Advantages:

It is accessible via our web site using the Microsoft Internet
Explorer or Netscape browser, and the posted version is always
up-to-date.

It works across platforms (Windows, Macintosh and UNIX operating
systems, as well as on Intranet and Internet sites)...all you
need is a browser to view it.

Disadvantages:

It is not fully compatible with browsers other than Microsoft
Explorer or Netscape.

Its information is contained on multiple web pages, so it
is not downloadable as a single complete file.

HTML-based Help

Figure 22, HTML-based example of Magnetics
Designer help.

Advantages:

It can be accessed from your desktop in an all-inclusive
file.

It has the same look and feel as web-based help.

Disadvantages:

It only works with Windows operating systems.

It is not usable on the Internet; the file must be downloaded
in order to be viewed.